Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-10-22
HORNER,S DISMISSAL.

HORNETS DISMISSAL.
The State Board of Silk Commissioners
dismissed the superintendent, Mr.. Hor-
ner, some time ago, and although there
has been a good deal OF talk about it
some of it very ugly, too-we do not yet
wholly understand the reasons for his dis
.missaL Mr.. Morse, for the Board, pub
lished a statement some days ago, de-
Tending their action, and it is to be infer
red from his language and the facts he
sets forth that there was difference Of
opinion between the Board and the SUI
perintendent as to the powers of the
Board and the scope of their duties, and
that the difference was so radical that the
Board believed the States interests
would be better served by the retirement
of Nj. Horner.
We have not had a word from either
side personally, and therefore we know
only what other persons are saying about
the matter Mr.. Horner's friends at Pea
body are very much out of humor about
it, Indignation meeting was held, and
!; local paper says: accusations are
made that the board OF commissioners
are, and have been from the first, rotten
to the core, and while we have been I'M
ableto get at The bottom of the facts, and
cannot positively state that such is the
case, certain il is that such is the general
belief of the public ct large"
She commissioners will hardly be will
ling to submit to such a state of public
opinion without demanding an official in
vestigation or at least without making a
very full and complete report to the legis-
lature. Until the people in general are
better informed on the subject, they will
rot Judge anybody harshly.- Kansas
Farmer.
Many Of our people will remem-
Der Mr.. Horner as giving an exhibi-
ton Of silk reeling in Opera Hall
one evening last fall. Like the
F'armer, we are ignorant Of the
cause of this trouble, except what
we have seen in the papers. One
statement in the papers is to the eff
feet that the open rupture between
the silk commission and the super
intendent came about by the latter
presenting to the wife of Governor
Martin, without the consent of the
commissioners, dress pattern of
the first cloth manufactured from
the station silk. The commission
ers do not appear to have antago-
nizad SO much the act as the
method, claiming that they should
have been consulted. On the other
hand, it is claimed that Belden &
Co., the manufacturers Of the cloth,
owned it, and presented it to Mrs.
Martin.
The silk commission consists of
three members. Two Of them are
Senator Codding and Representative
Morse. The law creating the silk
station was passed last winter. Mr.
Horner had been its protector. He
was at Topeka, working for it. He
enlisted as its champion in the
house Mr.. Morse. Mr. Morse
worked like a beaver for its passage,
and we think that but for his able
championship the bill would have
failed of passage in the house. Mr..
Morse was very friendly with Mr..
Horner last winter, which leads us
to Judge that the friendship has not
been severed without at least consid-
able provocation from MIR. Horner.
Horner understands the process of
reeling silk, and possibly the prin-
. ciple of making money in the silk
industry, but he will have to prove
the silk commissioners guilty before
people who know them will take
any stock in his charges of corrup-
ton on their part. 1t is to be hoped
that none of the appropriation for
the maintenance Of the silk station
has been, or will be, wasted. As in
the case of establishing forestry sta
tions, the legislature did what
ought to be made a great public
good when it provided for test of
the utility Of the silk industry being
made in Kansas. Whether legisla-
ton looking to the development Of
the best possibilities Of the state